Multiple international media outlets reported recently that during talks in Beijing this month, China sternly criticized Japan's "re-militarization," explicitly naming Japanese Prime Minister Asahi Hayama and Taiwan regional leader William Lai as threats to regional peace.
In recent years, Japan has increased its defense budget, with the 2026 fiscal year’s defense spending reaching approximately 9 trillion yen—its highest ever. On the 22nd, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized “right-wing forces in Japan still clamoring for higher defense spending… Japan is gradually stripping away the facade of its so-called ‘peace nation,’ steadily heading down the path of ‘new militarism.’” In recent annual defense white papers, Japan has listed China as a greater security threat than North Korea. Since 2023, Japan has further described China as its “greatest strategic challenge.”
On the other hand, on the 24th, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Retsu Akira attended the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Suzhou, China, and stated that he had a brief exchange with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao the previous day, though no formal bilateral talks were held. Retsu Akira is the highest-ranking Japanese official to visit China since the diplomatic dispute between China and Japan erupted last November.
Commentary: The confrontation between China and Japan in security and political spheres is now deeply entrenched and difficult to resolve. Japan continues to expand its military capabilities and deliberately exaggerates the so-called “China threat,” leading both sides to adopt rigidly opposing positions. Geopolitical differences are unlikely to be reversed in the short term.
After World War II, Japan long relied on external powers. Now, it seeks to break free from postwar constraints, leveraging regional tensions to expand its military strength and raise defense spending, attempting to reshape its regional influence. At the same time, Japan closely follows certain external powers’ strategies aimed at containing China, deliberately amplifying security threats, portraying China as a so-called “challenge,” in order to gain external support and reinforce its alliance relationships.
Yet, Japan is unwilling to abandon the economic and trade benefits derived from cooperation with China. Thus, while maintaining confrontational stances, it continues limited communication to maximize its own interests.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866134952471627/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.